<i>King and I</i> opens next week

The King and I opens on Thursday, July 30, in Monticello. When the curtain rises, theater goers will be treated to a beautifully rendered stage set. They will see the home of King Mongkut of Siam.

The splendor of the palace will be echoed by the elegant clothing worn by the cast. Add music by Richard Rogers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and ill-fated love story, dancers, and a plot that dramatizes the culture clash between British Imperialism and Asia and you have a hit.

The musical has remained popular since it premiered on Broadway in 1951. At that time, one critic saw it as “a flowering of all the arts of the theater.” As recently as April 2007, a road company toured China, South Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore.

The musical begins with the arrival of Anna, a governess hired by the King to teach his many children about the Western world. The story line is what happens after Anna arrives.

Performances of The King and I will be at 7 p.m. at Monticello High School auditorium on Thursday July 30, Friday July 31, and Saturday August 1.

A cast of 67 and many backstage volunteers have worked countless hours under the direction of Patti Husted to create a polished production. Derryl Jack conducts the pit orchestra.

Seating is reserved and ticket sales have been brisk. For box office information and hours see the ad in this newspaper.